Girl airlifted to hospital and horse put down after hit-and-run in Devon

Posted on by

A 61-year-old man has been arrested and remains in police custody after incident on Sunday

An eight-year-old girl was airlifted to hospital and the horse she was riding put down after a hit-and-run incident on Sunday.

Devon and Cornwall police said they were called to reports of a collision involving a white Ford Transit van and a horse at Higher Treween, Altarnun, near Launceston, at about 2.20pm. The girl was seriously injured and was airlifted to hospital. A 12-year-old who was leading the horse was uninjured.

Continue reading...

US oil group under pressure to exit Russia after Biden administration widens sanctions – Financial Times

Posted on by
  1. US oil group under pressure to exit Russia after Biden administration widens sanctions  Financial Times
  2. Oil jumps on expected hit to China and India's Russian supplies  CNBC
  3. Russian LNG Shipment Lands in Spain After New US Sanctions  Bloomberg
  4. Oil prices remain near 4-month highs as Russia sanctions weighed  Reuters
  5. Oil Price Rally Continues After U.S. Sanctions Russia's Biggest Oil Sellers  OilPrice.com
Posted in Uncategorized

Dangerous winds expected to amplify California wildfires as death toll hits 24

Posted on by

Warning of ‘particularly dangerous situation’ with gusts expected as LA fire chief says: ‘We are not in the clear yet’

Firefighters battling the disastrous wildfires around Los Angeles were prepared for a return of dangerous winds that could again stoke the flames as the death toll in the tragedy has hit at least 24.

Fierce gusts known as Santa Ana winds have been largely blamed for turning the wildfires into devastating infernos that leveled huge tranches of neighborhoods around America’s second-largest city, which has also been hit by drought.

Continue reading...

FBI warns of potential ‘copycat or retaliatory’ New Orleans attacks

Posted on by

Agency and DHS report possible threat from extremists in response to attack that killed more than a dozen people

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Monday warned of a potential public safety threat from violent extremists in response to the New Year’s Day attack in New Orleans, Louisiana.

“The FBI and DHS are concerned about possible copycat or retaliatory attacks due to the persistent appeal of vehicle ramming as a tactic for aspiring violent extremist attackers. Previous attackers inspired by foreign terrorist organizations (FTOs) who have conducted vehicle attacks in the United States and abroad have used rented, stolen, and personally owned vehicles, which are easy to acquire,” the agencies said in a statement.

Continue reading...

Where there’s fire, there’s smoke: Los Angeles blazes raise fears of ‘super toxic’ lung damage

Posted on by

Concerns that dangerous fine particle pollution can become embedded in bloodstream and lungs

The Los Angeles wildfires have claimed the lives of at least 24 people and have burned more than 100,000 structures. While the focus is understandably on avoiding the flames, another immediate danger lurks across the county and beyond, one more difficult to escape: smoke.

The most dangerous component of wildfire smoke is fine particle pollution, also known as PM2.5 or soot. These tiny particles, smaller than one 20th the width of a human hair, can, if inhaled, become embedded in the bloodstream and lungs. It is estimated that about one-third of all particulate matter pollution in the US now comes from wildfire smoke.

Continue reading...

Some Israeli soldiers refuse to keep fighting in Gaza – Yahoo! Voices

Posted on by
  1. Some Israeli soldiers refuse to keep fighting in Gaza  Yahoo! Voices
  2. Israeli soldiers refuse to fight until Gaza ceasefire is signed  The Telegraph
  3. Growing number of Israeli soldiers say they will lay down arms if there is no ceasefire in Gaza  Yahoo! Voices
  4. No more ‘cannon fodder’: Parents of troops, slain hostages demand Gaza deal  The Times of Israel
  5. 'Movements like these end wars': Israelis attend conference calling for IDF refusal  Haaretz
Posted in Uncategorized

At least 100 illegal miners have died while trapped in a South African mine for months, group says – The Associated Press

Posted on by
  1. At least 100 illegal miners have died while trapped in a South African mine for months, group says  The Associated Press
  2. South Africa launches operation at illegal gold mine amid fears many dead  The Guardian
  3. Footage shows trapped miners, dead bodies underground after South Africa raid  Reuters
  4. Operation under way to rescue trapped miners from South African gold mine  Al Jazeera English
  5. South Africa starts rescuing illegal gold miners trapped for months  MINING.com
Posted in Uncategorized

Spain proposes 100% tax on homes bought by non-EU residents

Posted on by

Pedro Sánchez announces measure in response to anger over rising housing costs

Spain has announced plans to impose a tax of up to 100% on real estate bought by non-residents from countries outside the EU, such as the UK, in an aim to tackle the country’s housing crisis.

The measure was one of a dozen unveiled on Monday by the country’s prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, as the government seeks to quell mounting anger over housing costs that have soared far beyond the reach of many in Spain.

Continue reading...

Surrey councillors ask ministers to ‘write off’ Woking’s £1bn debt

Posted on by

Taxpayers asked to shoulder burden as beleaguered council expected to merge with neighbouring authorities

Taxpayers are being asked to shoulder £1bn in debt amassed by a bankrupt Surrey council that will be merged in the government’s plan for the biggest transfer of powers to England’s regions this century.

Posing a fresh financial headache for the government, councillors in Surrey have requested that ministers “write off” £1bn in debt held by troubled Woking borough council to enable a merger between the county’s 12 local authorities.

Continue reading...